Crown molding jig, and a method for its use

ABSTRACT

Described herein is a crown molding jig, with a flat body, a device for attaching the upper end of the body to a wall, and a shelf, substantially perpendicular to the body, on which crown molding may be rested while a person installs the molding at the juncture of the wall and a ceiling. The jig may have an angled extension that when struck disengages the jig from the wall. A method using the jig to install crown molding is also described.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to carpentry tools, and in particular to aids to installation of crown molding.

BACKGROUND ART

The application of crown molding is a popular way to decorate the top of internal walls. The molding gracefully bevels the line of the wall to meet the ceiling, lending the room a more organic feel while adding an additional dimension of decoration. However, it is difficult to install crown molding, as it must be held overhead while it is attached; even measurement of the locus for installation is made more difficult by this factor.

Thus, there remains a need for a portable and effective tool to assist in installing crown molding.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A crown molding jig is disclosed. In one embodiment, the jig includes a flat body having an upper end, a lower end, a front, and a back. The jig also includes a wall attachment element, located on the back of the body at the upper end. The jig also includes a shelf attached to the front of the body at the lower end, and having an upper surface substantially perpendicular to the front of the body.

In a related embodiment, the body is substantially rectangular. In another related embodiment, the body further includes an extension attached to the lower end, the extension having a back surface forming a reflex angle with the back. According to another embodiment, the wall attachment element includes a reusable adhesive. In an additional embodiment, the wall attachment element includes at least one spike. The at least one spike is rotably attached to a hinge attached to the body at the upper end, in another embodiment. In yet another embodiment, the hinge is oriented to permit the at least one spike to rotate between a position against the back of the body and a position substantially perpendicular to the back of the body. Another embodiment of the jig includes a biasing means, the action of which tends to force the at least one spike into the position against the back of the body. Yet another embodiment includes a lever extension of the at least one spike, extending through the hinge in the opposite direction from that of the spike. In an additional embodiment, the body further includes at least one groove in the back in which the at least one spike fits when rotated into the position against the back of the body. In still another embodiment, the shelf further includes a lip on its distal end, the lip projecting upwards from the upper surface of the shelf. In another embodiment still, the distance from the upper end to the shelf is adjustable.

A method for installing crown molding is also disclosed. The method involves providing at least one jig as described above, affixing the body of the at least one jig to a wall, with the upper end of the at least one jig against a ceiling connected to the wall, using the wall attachment element, placing a length of crown molding on the shelf of the at least one jig, fastening part of the length of crown molding to the ceiling and the wall, removing the at least one jig from the wall, and fastening the remainder of the crown molding to the wall and the ceiling.

In a related embodiment, affixing the body of the at least one jig to the wall also involves engaging a lever fixed to at least one spike attached to the upper end of the at least one jig by a hinge, by pressing the lever against the ceiling, so as to rotate the at least one spike to a position substantially perpendicular to the back of the at least one jig, and driving the at least one spike into the wall by striking the at least one jig. In another related embodiment, removing the at least one jig from the wall additionally involves striking an extension attached to the lower end of the body of the at least one jig and having a back surface forming a reflex angle with the back, to disengage the wall attachment element.

Other aspects, embodiments and features of the system and method will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The accompanying figures are for schematic purposes and are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the figures, each identical or substantially similar component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a single numeral or notation. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure. Nor is every component of each embodiment of the system and method shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the system and method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preceding summary, as well as the following detailed description of the disclosed system and method, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the attached drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the system and method, presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that neither the system nor the method is limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram depicting an embodiment of the disclosed jig;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram depicting an embodiment of the disclosed jig being used to install a piece of crown molding;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the disclosed jig;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the upper end of an embodiment of the disclosed jig;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the upper end of an embodiment of the disclosed jig;

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the upper end of an embodiment of the disclosed jig;

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of the upper end of an embodiment of the disclosed jig;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the middle of an embodiment of the disclosed jig; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method for installing crown molding using the disclosed jig.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the disclosed crown molding jig allow a user to create a temporary shelf on which to rest crown molding and hold it in place while the molding is fastened to the ceiling and wall. The jig also helps to support a measuring tape to aid in measuring the length of crown molding to be installed. Some embodiments of the jig have an angled extension that aids in detaching it from the wall.

FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of the disclosed crown molding jig 100. The jig 100 has a body 101, with an upper end 102, a lower end 103, a front 104, and a back 105. The jig 100 also has a wall attachment element 106 for attaching the body 101 to a wall, located on the back 105 of the body at the upper end 102. The jig 100 also has a shelf 107, located on the front 104 of the body at the lower end 103, and having an upper surface substantially perpendicular to the front 104 of the body.

Reviewing FIG. 1A in more detail, the jig 100 has a body 101, with an upper end 102, a lower end 103, a front 104, and a back 105. The body 101 may be constructed of any material of sufficient rigidity and strength to support the weight of the molding. In some embodiments, the body 101 is constructed of a polymer. The body 101 may be constructed of plastic. The body 101 may be constructed of resin. The body 101 may be constructed of fiberglass. In some embodiments, the body 101 is constructed of metal. In other embodiments, the body 101 is constructed of wood.

The body 101 is flat. As shown in FIG. 1B, in some embodiments, a flat body is a body whose depth, defined as the distance between the front 104 and the back 105 of the body, is sufficiently small to allow the body 101 to be placed between a piece of molding 120 and a wall 121 without interfering with the correct placement of the molding against the wall 121 and a ceiling 122, as shown in FIG. 1B. In one embodiments, the depth of the body is less than a quarter (¼) of an inch. In some embodiments, a flat body 101 is a body whose front 104 and back 105 are substantially planar, and substantially parallel to each other. In one embodiment, the body 101 is substantially rectangular; the body 101 may be substantially rectangular where any cross-section of the body parallel to the front 104 or back 105 is substantially rectangular.

Returning to FIG. 1A, in some embodiments, the body also has an extension 108 attached to the lower end, the extension having a back surface 110 forming a reflex angle with the back 105. In some embodiments, the front surface 109 of the extension forms an obtuse angle with the front 104. The extension 108 may be constructed of any material described above for the construction of the body 101. In some embodiments, the extension 108 is fused to the body 101. In other embodiments, the extension 108 and the body 101 form a single, monolithic piece. The extension 108 serves to lever the wall attachment device 106 away from the wall, as set forth in more detail below.

The jig 100 also has a wall attachment element 106 for attaching the body 101 to a wall, located on the back 105 of the body at the upper end 102. The wall attachment element 106 may be any element suitable for affixing an object to a wall. The wall attachment element 106 may be a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The wall attachment element 106 may be a reusable adhesive, as shown in FIG. 3. In some embodiments, the wall attachment element includes at least one spike. The at least one spike may be composed of any material of sufficient hardness to pierce a wall repeatedly without wearing out. The at least one spike may be composed of metal. The at least one spike may be composed of a hard polymer. The at least one spike may be composed of a ceramic. In some embodiments, the at least one spike is fixed to the back 105 of the body, near the upper end 102, and is substantially perpendicular to the back 105, as shown in FIG. 4. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5A, the at least one spike is rotably attached to a hinge 111 attached to the body 101 at the upper end. In a related embodiment, the hinge 111 is oriented to permit the at least one spike to rotate between a position against the back of the body and a position substantially perpendicular to the back of the body. In another embodiment, the jig includes a biasing means, the action of which tends to force the at least one spike into the position against the back of the body. The biasing means may be at least one spring. The biasing means may be a weight. Another embodiment of the jig includes a lever extension 112 of the at least one spike, extending through the hinge 111 in the opposite direction from that of the spike. The movement of the lever to a position perpendicular to the front 104 thus may have the effect of rotating the at least one spike to a position perpendicular to the back 105. FIG. 2 shows a view of the front 104 of the body, 101, with a pair of springs 200 placed in the hinge, and braced against the lever 112 and the front 104, forcing the lever upward and the at least one spike downward against the back 105. In some embodiments, body further comprises at least one groove 113 in the back 105 in which the at least one spike fits when rotated into the position against the back 105 of the body. FIG. 5B shows a view of the upper end 102 of an embodiment of the jig 100 from the back 104, with two spikes 106 deployed perpendicularly to the back 105 and two grooves 113 placed to accept the two spikes 106 when rotated into the two grooves.

Returning to FIG. 1A, the jig 100 also has a shelf 107, located on the front 104 of the body at the lower end 103, and having an upper surface substantially perpendicular to the front 105. The shelf 107 may be constructed of any material described above for the construction of the body 101. In some embodiments, the shelf 107 is fused to the body 101. In some embodiments, the shelf 107 and the body 101 form a single, monolithic unit. In one embodiment, the shelf 107 has a lip 114 on its distal end, the lip 114 projecting upwards from the upper surface of the shelf.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the jig 100 in which the distance from the upper end to the shelf 107 is adjustable. In some embodiments, the shelf 107 is detachable from the body 101. In some embodiments, the shelf 107 has at least one pin 600 that snaps into at least one of a plurality of holes 601 in the front 104 of the body, to secure the shelf in a location corresponding to the at least one hole. The holes 601 may be arranged at various heights on the front of the body 104, so that the shelf may be inserted at various heights; thus, the height of the shelf may be adjusted by removing it from one hole or holes and inserting it in another hole or holes. In other embodiments, the shelf 107 is secured to the body 101 via at least one nut and bolt set. In some embodiments, the at least one nut and bolt set is inserted in at least one groove running in a direction from the upper end to the lower end, so that the height of the shelf may be adjusted by loosening the at least one nut and bolt assembly, sliding the shelf up or down through the at least one groove to its desired new height, and tightening the at least one bolt and nut assembly to secure the shelf in its new location.

FIG. 7 illustrates some embodiments of the disclosed method 700. The method 700 includes providing at least one jig as provided above in reference to FIG. 1A (701). In addition, the method 700 includes affixing the body of the at least one jig to a wall, with the upper end of the at least one jig against a ceiling connected to the wall, using the wall attachment element (702). The method 700 further includes placing a length of crown molding on the shelf of the at least one jig (703). The method 700 additionally includes fastening part of the length of crown molding to the ceiling and the wall (704). The method also includes removing the at least one jig from the wall (705). The method further includes fastening the remainder of the crown molding to the wall and the ceiling (706).

The method 700 includes providing at least one jig as provided above in reference to FIG. 1A (701). In some embodiments, the method 700 involves providing more than one jig. In some embodiments, the method 700 is practiced with a plurality of jigs. The method 700 may also include determining the number of jigs to use, based on the length of crown molding to be installed.

In addition, the method 700 includes affixing the body 101 of the at least one jig 100 to a wall, with the upper end 102 of the at least one jig 100 against a ceiling connected to the wall, using the wall attachment element 106 (702). In some embodiments, the wall attachment element 106 is a detachable adhesive, and affixing the body 101 of the at least one jig 100 to the wall involves adhering the body 101 to the wall using the detachable adhesive. In some embodiments, the wall attachment element 106 is at least one spike, and affixing the body 101 of the at least one jig 100 to the wall involves driving the at least one spike into the wall; for instance, the at least one spike may be driven into the wall by striking the at least one jig 100 with a hammer. In other embodiments, affixing the body 101 of the at least one jig 100 to the wall further involves engaging a lever 112 fixed to at least one spike attached to the upper end 102 of the at least one jig 100 by a hinge, by pressing the lever against the ceiling, so as to rotate the at least one spike to a position substantially perpendicular to the back 105 of the at least one jig 100, and driving the at least one spike into the wall by striking the at least one jig 100.

The method 700 further includes placing a length of crown molding on the shelf of the at least one jig (703), holding the crown molding in the correct position against the wall and ceiling as illustrated above in FIG. 1B. Where more than one jig 100 is being used, placing the length of crown molding on the shelf 107 of the at least one jig 100 may involve placing the length of crown molding so that it rests on each shelf 107, holding the crown molding in the correct position against the wall and ceiling as illustrated above in FIG. 1B.

The method 700 additionally includes fastening part of the length of crown molding to the ceiling and the wall (704). The molding may be fastened by any means known in the art for fastening crown molding to ceilings and walls, including using nails, screws, staples, or adhesives.

The method also includes removing the at least one jig from the wall (705). Where the wall attachment device 106 is a removable adhesive, removing the at least one jig 100 from the wall may involve removing the adhesive from the wall. In some embodiments, where the wall attachment device 101 is at least one spike, removing the at least one jig 100 from the wall involves pulling the at least one spike out of the wall. In some embodiments, removing the at least one jig from the wall further involves striking an extension attached to the lower end 103 of the body of the at least one jig and having a back surface 110 forming a reflex angle with the back 105, to disengage the wall attachment element 106. The extension 108 functions as a lever, so that pressing it toward the wall horizontally causes the upper end of the body, 101, on which the wall attachment device 106 is located, to pull away from the wall. The extension 108 may be impelled horizontally toward the wall by striking the extension 108 with a hammer. In some embodiments, where the wall attachment device 106 is at least one spike rotably attached to the body 101 by a hinge 111, with a biasing means 200 to force the spike against the back 105 of the body, once the at least one spike is disengaged from the wall, the biasing means 200 will force the spike against the back of the body 105. This may have the effect of making the jig 100 easier to slip out from behind the crown molding. Where the back of the body 105 has at least one groove 113, as described above, the at least one spike may be forced into the at least one groove. Where the at least one spike is connected to a lever 112, the lever 112 may be forced by the biasing means 200 into a vertical position, extending the body 101 at its upper end 102. The method further includes fastening the remainder of the crown molding to the wall and the ceiling (706).

It will be understood that the system and method may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the system method is not to be limited to the details given herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A crown molding jig, the jig comprising: a flat body having an upper end, a lower end, a front, and a back; a wall attachment element, located on the back of the body at the upper end; and a shelf attached to the front of the body at the lower end, and having an upper surface substantially perpendicular to the front of the body.
 2. A jig according to claim 1, wherein the body is substantially rectangular.
 3. A jig according to claim 1, wherein the body further comprises an extension attached to the lower end, the extension having a back surface forming a reflex angle with the back.
 4. A jig according to claim 1, wherein the wall attachment element comprises a reusable adhesive.
 5. A jig according to claim 1, wherein the wall attachment element comprises at least one spike.
 6. A jig according to claim 5, wherein the at least one spike is rotably attached to a hinge attached to the body at the upper end.
 7. A jig according to claim 6, wherein the hinge is oriented to permit the at least one spike to rotate between a position against the back of the body and a position substantially perpendicular to the back of the body.
 8. A jig according to claim 7, further comprising a biasing means, the action of which tends to force the at least one spike into the position against the back of the body.
 9. A jig according to claim 6, further comprising a lever extension of the at least one spike, extending through the hinge in the opposite direction from that of the spike.
 10. A jig according to claim 6, wherein the body further comprises at least one groove in the back in which the at least one spike fits when rotated into the position against the back of the body.
 11. A jig according to claim 1, wherein the shelf further comprises a lip on its distal end, the lip projecting upwards from the upper surface of the shelf.
 12. A jig according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the upper end to the shelf is adjustable.
 13. A method for installing crown molding, the method comprising: providing at least one jig as provided in claim 1; affixing the body of the at least one jig to a wall, with the upper end of the at least one jig against a ceiling connected to the wall, using the wall attachment element; placing a length of crown molding on the shelf of the at least one jig; fastening part of the length of crown molding to the ceiling and the wall; removing the at least one jig from the wall; and fastening the remainder of the crown molding to the wall and the ceiling.
 14. A method according to claim 13, wherein affixing the body of the at least one jig to the wall further comprises: engaging a lever fixed to at least one spike attached to the upper end of the at least one jig by a hinge, by pressing the lever against the ceiling, so as to rotate the at least one spike to a position substantially perpendicular to the back of the at least one jig; and driving the at least one spike into the wall by striking the at least one jig.
 15. A method according to claim 13, wherein removing the at least one jig from the wall further comprises striking an extension attached to the lower end of the body of the at least one jig and having a back surface forming a reflex angle with the back, to disengage the wall attachment element. 